Sankey was, but sadly delicate you know--had
no idea of the querulous complaining and fretfulness whose display
was reserved for her own family only.
To this Ned was so accustomed that it passed ever his head almost
unheeded; not so her constant allusions to his father. Wholly
unconscious of the agony which it inflicted upon the boy, Mrs.
Sankey was incessantly quoting his opinions or utterances.
"Ned, I do wish you would not fidget with your feet. You know your
dear father often told you of it;" or, "As your dear father used
to say, Ned;" until the boy in despair would throw down his book
and rush out of the room to calm himself by a run in the frosty
night air; while Mrs. Sankey would murmur to herself, "That boy's
temper gets worse and worse, and with my poor nerves how am I to
control him?"
Mr. Porson was very kind to him in those days. During that summer
holiday he had very frequently spent the evening at Captain Sankey's,
and had formed a pretty correct idea of the character of Ned's
mother. Thus when he saw that Ned, when he entered the school after
breakfast or dinner, had an anxious hunted look, and was clearly
in a state of high tension, he guessed he was having a bad time of
it at home.
Charlie had fast got over the shock of his father's death; children
quickly recover from a blow, and, though delicate, Charlie was of
a bright and gentle disposition, ready to be pleased at all times,
and not easily upset.
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